The Charge

"Of course, you're war crazy and your work is the
priority."—Kaname Chidori

The Case

Listen up, troops. I am altering our briefing format to streamline digital
review assimilation. Our scouts gathered full reports during the previous two
missions, which has given us a good idea of the technical capabilities of
Full Metal Panic!. From now on, you will only receive abbreviated
overviews of each mission with tactical summaries of each episode. This should
enable you to more quickly assess the situation and understand the unique
aspects of each mission. If you need a refresher on the technical background of
Full Metal Panic!, you can access the previous scout reports for Mission
01 and Mission 02.

The four episodes that comprise Mission 03 deal with a terrorist group and
an enemy Whispered. The story is somewhat self-contained; even if you are
unfamiliar with the previous two DVDs, you could jump in here and be
entertained. Mission 03 grants more screen time to the enigmatic Captain Tessa
Testarossa, which provides for an amusing emotional undercurrent. After a minor
lull in Mission 02, Mission 03 rebounds with zeal, cementing Full Metal
Panic!'s trademark blend of humor and action. Great technical quality and
fluid animation make Full Metal Panic! an immersive experience that will
keep you wanting more.

• "Dangerous Safe House" This episode introduces
a new subplot about an enemy Whispered. The subplot seems to come out of
nowhere, but the story arc that continues over these four episodes is dramatic
and smooth. Kaname and Sousuke have comedic moments as they argue over a missed
study date. The real meat of the episode is Captain Tessa's sojourn into the
field, which goes badly. Tessa has had little substantive screen time, so this
is a welcome opportunity to understand her character a bit more. I've always
been a little suspicious of Lt. Kalinin, but this episode dispels any hint of
duplicity his character might have had. Much of this episode is setup for the
next three, but it is enjoyable nonetheless.

• "Run, Run, Run" The setup pays off here.
Sousuke's arrival at his apartment is fraught with tension, until he discovers
that Tessa has fled there with her prisoner. While the previous episode was
moderately funny, this one is devilishly hilarious. Sousuke is perceptive enough
to realize that Kaname will not be pleased to find Tessa in the shower. He does
his best to prevent Kaname finding out, but she does. The coup de grace is when
Tessa feigns ignorance of Sousuke's military identity. The entire situation is
played out with aplomb. Takuma soon makes trouble, so the group flees to Jindai
High School. The interplay between the four characters is priceless. The episode
ends in a terse prisoner exchange that features fast and furious action.

• "Behemoth Awakens" The character-building
moments from "Run, Run, Run" are used to great effect in this episode.
We discover that Takuma has been twisted by a terrorist group to pilot a nasty
Arm Slave. The backstory of the group and its motivations adds depth to the
later action sequences. When Takuma hops into the cockpit, we know that mass
destruction is on the way. The whole episode is one long adventure, leading up
to potential annihilation: powerful and touching.

• "One Night Stand" "One Night Stand"
is a fitting end to this story arc, but it seems slightly one-dimensional
compared to the emotional depth and character interplay of the previous three
episodes. Basically, everyone flees destruction and tries to take down Behemoth.
On an action level it works well. Several "just in time" plot twists
artificially bail people out of desperate situations. Kurz gets to shine, and
Tessa opens herself to Kaname, so all is not guns and explosions. This is a
satisfying end to an interesting story arc.

The plot may not be intricately wound, but Full Metal Panic!
continues to offer an enjoyable experience with great range of mood and focus.
If you find Neon Genesis Evangelion too bleak and Bubblegum Crisis
too bubbly, this one may suit you just right. The court grants Full Metal
Panic! a continuance.